Positioning device for connecting cap to cup   

Abstract: A paper-made cup has a plastic lip portion connected along the open top thereof and multiple first engaging portions are formed on the outer periphery of the lip portion. A cap has multiple second engaging portions on the inside of the skirt portion thereof. The cap is mounted to the open top of the cup, and the first and second engaging portions are engaged with each other to position the cap on the cup.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cup and a cap, and more particularly, to a positioning device for connecting the cap to the cup.

2. Background of the Invention

A conventional way for take-out beverage such as coffee, juice or bubble tea is to use a paper or plastic made cup which is less expensive and convenient. Generally, the cup 100 for take-out coffee is shown in FIG. 1 and includes a cap 200 which is mounted to the open top of the cup 100 and has a through hole 201 form which the coffee can be accessed, or through which a straw is inserted into the cup 100. In order to add cream and sugar into the coffee, the cap 200 has to be removed from the cup 100 so that the user has to lift the cap 200 by fingers upward so as to remove the cap 200 from the cup 100. During the action, the hot coffee might splash and burn the user. The conventional cap 200 needs to be improved.

The present invention intends to provide a positioning device which improves the shortcomings of the conventional positioning mechanism for connecting the cap to the cup.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a paper-made cup and a cap, wherein the cup has a plastic lip portion connected along the open top of the cup. Multiple first engaging portions are formed on the outer periphery of the lip portion. The cap has multiple second engaging portions on the inside of the skirt portion of the cap. The cap is mounted to the open top of the cup, and the first and second engaging portions are engaged with each other.

Preferably, the lip portion, the first engaging portions and the cap are made by bio-degradable material. Preferably, the first engaging portions are located at even angular distance along the outer periphery of the lip portion, and the first engaging portions each are a block which has a first inclined surface. The second engaging portions are located at even angular distance at the inside of the skirt of the cap, and the second engaging portions each have a rib which has a second inclined surface. The first and second inclined surfaces are engaged with each other to position the cap to the cup.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a cup and a cap which is mounted to the cup by the positioning device of the present invention, the cap is easily connected to and removed from the cup to avoid the beverage from splashing.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the conventional cup with a cap mounted thereto;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the cup and the cap of the present invention, and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show that the cap is mounted to the cup by the positioning device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper-made cup 10 has an open top 11 and beverage can be received in the cup 10. A plastic lip portion 12 is connected along the open top 11 of the cup 10 and made by bio-degradable material. Multiple first engaging portions 121 are formed on the outer periphery of the lip portion 12. The first engaging portions 121 are located at even angular distance along the outer periphery of the lip portion 12, and the first engaging portions 121 each are a block which has a first inclined surface 122 so as to be connected with the cap 20. The cup 10 is water-proof and has a film (not shown) so that the lip portion 12 can be integrally connected to the cup 10 by way of high-frequency wave welding or ultra-sonic welding.

The cap 20 is a circular cap and has a through hole 21 through which a straw (not shown) is inserted. Multiple second engaging portions 22 are formed on the inside of the skirt portion of the cap 20. The second engaging portions 22 are located at even angular distance at the inside of the skirt of the cap 20. The second engaging portions 22 each have a rib 221 which forms a recess and has a second inclined surface 222. The first and second inclined surfaces 122, 222 are engaged with each other to position the cap 20 to the cup 10. It is noted that the lip portion 12, the first engaging portions 121 and the cap 20 are made by bio-degradable material.

The first engaging portions 121 and the lip portion 12 are simultaneously formed on the cup 10 and the cap 20 is connected to the cup 10 by engaging the first and second engaging portions 121, 22 so that the cap 20 is easily mounted upon the open top 11 of the cup 10, and the cap 20 is also easily removed from the cup 10 while the beverage in the cup 10 does not splash out.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.